Game



Patented May 4, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,583,244 PATENT OFFICE;-

CLARK n. BURRIS ANDJAMES c. HEATH, or DES ornnsrowa;

GAME.

Application filed February 24, 1925. Serial No. 11,125.

T o'aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CLARK E. BURRIS and J AMES 0. HEATH, citizens of the United States of America, and residents of Desprovide an improved construction for the several appliances employed in setting and arranging the court for playing the'im proved game.

Our invention consist-s in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which i Figure 1 is a plan of the court showing the setting of appliances and objects and implements employed in playing the game. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same on an enlarged scale, portions being broken away to economize space. Figure 3 is an end elevation of the same,'on an enlarged scale, portions being broken away to economize space. Figure 4 is a cross-section on the indicated line 14 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a cross-section on the indicated line 5-5 of Figure 1. Figures (Sand 7 are front elevations of two of the members adapted for outdoor play. Figure 8 is a cross-sec tion on the indicatedline 8-8 of Figure The court preferably is of rectangular form andvarious appliances, hazards or stations are located adjacent the border or bounds thereof and at intervalswithin said bounds, as follows: Four stations A are placed at'the respective corners ofthe court and preferably are alik'e'in construction. A

station B is placed on the median line of the court'and has its center substantially in the'vertical plane of the center of the court.

Twostations C are placed on oppositesides" of station 13, one of said stations G being of said stationslpreferably being located on each of the end lines of the courtm-idway 'be- B and equally spaced therefrom. Ground tween the corner stationsA and the other two being located between and in line with said end stations D and-the centralstation balls E and F, preferably white and alike in size and composition, are pla'ced in line with the stations B and C and equally spaced therefrom, one of said ground balls-being located on each side of the central'station B. Four cue-balls areshown assembled at H on the court. Preferably the cue-'balls H are alike in size and composition with the ground balls E and F, but'of different'colors such as green, yellow, red and b'rown. The halls may bemade of rubber, wood or composition as desired. Fourplayi'ng mallets J are shown assembled on the court. The mallets may be made ofwo'o'd, rubber or composition as desired, are unco'l'ored or alike in color and'h'ave', double-ended heads tapering from the center to the ends thereof and are employed to drive the cue-balls in playing the game onthe court. One of the stations A is shown in detail in Figure '5' and is constructed with a base plate-10, a-wire pocket 11, a stake 12, and two square arches 13, 14. The-wire pocket 11 is formed substantially circular in its body portion, open at one side, with arms "15"diverging from said opening'and having'down-turned end portions set inholee in the plate 10. The stake 12 is formed with an eye loosely'embracing the central portion of the" pocket wire and is adapted to be set in a hole in the plate and support the body ofthepocket. The pocket 11 is arranged'with-its opening directed to the center of the 'court'and is inclined thereto so that'the arms form an approach-to the hole or opening "therein and said opening preferably isof greater diameter than that of the balls used in play.- The arches-13 14' preferably are made of wire and are adaptedto beset in holes'in the plate 10 so that their tops cross and the rear arms of the two arches form'a back-stop at the rear ofthe pocket, the front 'arms'of the arches forming guards'at either side of the approach to the opening of the pocket. It is'the function of thearches 13,145 to" prevent escape of any ball from the pocket except by way of the entrancethereto' and, to that end, the arms of the arches are spaced apartat the" sides and rear of the approach to the pocketdistances less'than the diameterof any ball used, the foremost legs'of the arches being s aced apart furtherthan'said pockets.

diameter to admit a ball to the pocket. The station B is provided with spaced base plates 16, 17, arcuate side arches 18, 19 and arcuate inner arches 20, 21 between the side arches. The ends of the arches are adapted to be set in holes in the base plates 16, 17 and the central portions of said arches are connected by a tie plate 22 crimped around and in sliding engagement with the bodies of the arches to space them properly apart. The arches 18, 19 are of greater length than the arches 20, 21 so that when combined as shown they constitute a trough, the inner arches being in a lower arc than the side arches, through which a ball may roll and on the upper part of which said ball may come to rest. The arches are spaced apart distances less than the diameter of any ball used so that said ball will not fall between them. The tie-plate 22 is depressed between the arches to such extent as not to form material obstruction to the rolling of a ball through the trough. The arched portion of the station E is termed a bridge and constitutes, in some respects, a hazard in the play. A loop or almost annular arch 23 is mounted in holes in a base plate at beneath the bridge, the center of the loop being at right angles to the longitudinal trend of the bridge and in line with stations C. The loop 23 is of such size that a ball in play may roll through it freely, forms a part of the station B and is termed a bridge tunnel. The stations A are termed corner Each station C is composed of a base plate 25, arcuate side rails 26, 27, arc uate inner rails 28, 29, a supporting bracket 30 and a loop or almost annular arch 31. The end portions of the rails are adapted to be set in holes in the base plate 25 and bracket and the arms of the loop 31 are adapted to pass through holes in said bracket and be set in holes in a base plate 32. The inner rails 28, 29 are of less length than the outer rails 26, 27 and occupy a lower arc and the outer ends of said rails are all elevated so that they form an upward curve or approach to the loop 31, being sustained by the bracket 30. The circular portion 01 the loop 31 is at the terminal or outer ends of the rails, and said rails form a trough to ward said loop, and are spaced apart distances less than the diameter of any ball in play so that said ball may roll along said trough to and through said loop. The stations G are termed air-tunnels. Each of the stations D is composed of a base plate 38,- a square arch 34 and a loop or almost annular arch 35. The arch 34 and loop 35 are adapted to be set in holes in the base plate in parallel planes and slightly spaced apart.

The arms'of the arch 34: are spaced apart reater distances than the diameter of the loop 35, and the latter is of greater diameter than any ball in play, so that said ball may entering said loop and also permit the ball to enter the loop at an oblique angle thereto. The base plates are always to be employed.

for indoor play to support and stabilize the arches, rails and loops and may be used in outdoor play for the same purpose, although they may be dispensed with and the various arches, rails and loops be inserted in the ground as suggested by Figures 6 and 7. Also, the arches, rails and loops may be set in wood, concrete or other substance to give them desired location and stability and permanence in a fixed court.

The game may be played by one person with fairly good results, but in match play each player may be independent up to four in number, or two pairs playing as partners. When six or eight players compete in the same game it is better to pair off as part ners, the partners using the same mallet and cue-ball. However the number of mallets and cue-balls may be increased as desired. Various rules may be followed or variations of play and manner of scoring be employed as desired. To play the game, the balls H and mallets J are distributed among the players, one ball and mallet to each one or group of partners, the ground balls E and F and other stations being arranged as shown and described. Sequence of play is determined in some agreed way such as by lagging or lot. Starting at either end of the court, the first player places his cue-ball on the median line of the court between stations D, at least two mallet lengths from.

drive a ground ball or an opponents ball l into the corner pockets, and through the air tunnels and the bridge tunnel, by striking any of them with his cue-ball, and also strives to hit a ground ball or an opponents ball with his cue-ball, and displace such opponents ball to inconvenience its further play, and also strives to make billiards or caroms on two or more balls other than his own. The course of play and value of hits made or stations passed, or balls other than his own pocketed, or penalties to be applied for misses or the pocketing of his cue-ball, and the like, may be determined by rules se lected to govern the play. The simplest form of play would determine as the winner,

the first to complete a circuit of the court Without penalty or in spite thereof, having played all the stations in turn as arranged to .be played and safely avoiding pocketing 01" his cue-ball.

Vi e claim as our invention 1. In a game adapted to be played on a court, a plurality of stations forming the outline of said court and including pockets, air-tunnels and ground-tunnels, and cueballs adapted to be rolled on said court relative to said stations and to each other.

2. In a game adapted to be played on a court, a plurality of stations forming the outline of the court and including groundtunnels, pockets and air-tunnels, groundballs adapted for primary locationivithin the outline of the court and also adapted to be moved by contact of cue-balls therewith, and cue-balls adapted to be rolled on said court in relation to said stations and ground balls and each other.

3. In a game adapted to be played on a court, a plurality of stations forming the outline of said court, a plurality of stations Within the outline of the court including a bridge and a tunnel beneath said bridge, ground-balls having primary locations on said court relative to said bridge, cue-balls adapted to be rolled on said court in relation to said stations, bridge, tunnel, groundballs and each'other, said ground-balls being adapted to be played relative to said stations, bridge and tunnel by striking them With said cue-balls, said cue-balls being adapted to strike said ground-balls.

4. In a game adapted to be played on a court, a plurality of stations forming the outline of the court and including cornerpockets, ground-tunnels and air-tunnels. a plurality of stations Within the outline of said court and including ground-tunnels, a

bridge and a bridge-tunnel, and cue-balls adapted to be rolled on said court in relation to said stations and to each other.

5. In a game adapted to be played on a court, a plurality of stations forming the outline of the court and including cornerpoclrets, gr0und-tunnels and air-tunnels, a plurality of stations Within the outline of the court and including a bridge, a bridgetunnel and ground tunnels, ground-balls having primary locations on said court relative to said bridge and bridge-tunnel, and cue-balls adapted to be rolled on said court in relation to said stations, to said groundballs and to each other.

6. In a game of the character described, a corner-pocket composed of crossed arches, a Wire pocket-frame Within the outline of the legs 01' said arches and means for supporting said frame.

7. In a game of the character described, a corner-pocket composed of crossed arches, a Wire pocket-frame open at one side and mounted in inclined position Within said,

arches, legs of said arches forming a backstop for said frame.

8. In a game of the character described, an air-tunnel formed of upwardly-curved spaced Wires at different altitudes and a loop at the upper end of and communicating With said Wires.

9. In a game of the character described, an air-tunnel composed of an upwardlycurved trough and a loop at the upper end of and communicating with said trough.

10. In a game of the character described, a bridge composed of an arcuate trough comprising arcuate Wires in substantially parallel vertical planes.

11. In a game of the character described, an arcuate trough formed of Wires of different lengths arranged in substantially parallel vertical planes, said Wires being connected substantially at their centers.

12. In a game of the character described, a bridge composed of arcuate Wires of different lengths arranged in substantially parallel vertical planes, the shorter Wires being between the longer Wires, and a tieplate connecting the central portions of said Wires.

13. In a game of the character described, a bridge and a bridge-tunnel beneath said bridge, said tunnel having its center on a line which, if extended, Would be at substantial right angles to the trend of the bridge. I i

Signed at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, this 14th day of February, 1925.

CLARK E. BURRIS. JAMES C. HEATH. 

